ASEAN Charter to bring changes, says expert

Lilian Budianto , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 10/09/2008 10:37 AM | World

People in Southeast Asia need not fear the ASEAN Charter, because it will usher in significant changes not just in economic matters, but also in democracy and human rights, a Romanian expert says.

"It's sometimes hard for certain countries... Myanmar in this case, to jump directly (into a democratic system pursued by other countries) but gradually, in several years, ASEAN will be different from now," Ambassador George Savuica said Wednesday during a forum on ASEAN organized by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta.

Savuica, president of the Romanian Institute for European-Asian Studies (IRSEA), said the charter, which would see ASEAN become a rules-based organization, would commit each of the 10 member states, with varying levels of democracy, to keep up with their peers.

Savuica, who previously served as the Romanian ambassador to Indonesia, dismissed doubts the charter would not be effective in enforcing its principles, including democracy and human rights.

"Certainly, it would be effective, but slowly," Savuica, who speaks fluent Indonesian, said.

Concerns have arisen that the charter has been watered down from its original form to cater to all member states. Critics also say the charter will prove powerless in resolving conflicts within the region.

"You need confidence in yourself. The history of ASEAN shows that we may tackle things and develop together. It is a process that takes time. People have to be more positive for the community to keep growing," Savuica said.

Following Wednesday's forum, the CSIS signed an agreement with the IRSEA on cooperation in research.

Savuica said the IRSEA had also signed a similar agreement with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) on Wednesday.